Adjustable wrench



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ADJUSTABLE WRENCH sept. 16, 1947;

Filed Dec. 8, 1945 BWM* ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Theodore E.v Stoiber, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application'December 8, 1943, Serial No.x513,347

(Cl. Sli-158') 6 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable wrenches, and more particularly to means for facilitating theesetting of the wrench to grasp an object to be turned.

An object of the invention is to provide a simplilied adjustable wrench having means for quickly initially setting the jaws to approximate position, whereby only few parts, mostlyv basic to wrench construction, are required.

In the embodiment shown, this is accomplished by` providing a nove1 shank and movable jawv assembly, wherein the jaw is not only slidably mounted on the shank but also rotatably mounted thereon to provide for disengagement of the jaw-driving means by a` relative-turning of said jawV and shank.

.Another object of the inventionis toprovide such an adjustable wrench wherein the jaws will not inadvertently change in their'setting` during the use of the wrench.

In the wrench of the present invention with the jaws in adjusted position, thel disengaging movement of the jaw-driving means causes a slight closing of the wrenchjaws. However, during the working stroke of. thevwrench, the jaws are tightly gripping the object to be turned and therefore cannot close further than their adjusted setting. As a result, thereleasing or disengaging movement of the jaw-driving means is prevented, and therefore inadvertent opening of the-jaws due to disengagement of said means cannot occur.

An advantageous feature of this invention is the provision of an improved adjustable wrench permitting a quick initial setting of the jaws to approximate size, wherein this operation may be conveniently carried out entirely with the iingers of the hand that holds` the shank of the wrench while the latter is being positioned against the part itis to turn, and wherein the nal driving adjustment of the jaws may be accomplished in the same manner.

This is accomplished by providing a novel arrangement of jaw-driving means and release therefor wherein a worm and rack may be bodily moved relatively to each other in a direction axially of the teeth of the latter'by a simple shifting of parts by the ngers of the hand holding the shank, to disengage the worm and rack and permit quick initial adjustment of the jaws,

Other features and advantages will hereinafter r appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of the adjustable wrench of the present invention with a portion of the movable jaw body cut away.'

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the wrench.

Fig. 3is a section takenk on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line II-4 of Fig.,1.

Fig. 5r isA a sectionv similark to Fig. 3 but with the movable jaw rotated to a position wherein the jaw-driving means are disengaged.

Fig. 6` is a section similar to that ofFig. Llbut showing the movable jaw in a partially rotated position similar to that of Fig. 5.

` Fig. 7 showsanother embodiment of the invention illustrating an alternative stop mechanism to limit turning of the movable jaws of the wrench.

Fig. 8 is a detailview of the teeth of the rack.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the wrench embodying the present invention comprises a xed jaw III-mounted on a shank. II which carries a movable jawr IZ-adapted to cooperate with the iixed jaw III`for grasping nuts or other objects to be turned.

The movablejaw I2.is mounted on the shank I I to permit slidable advancing and retracting movement thereon with respect to the fixed jaw I0.

For the purpose of driving the movable jaw I2 thefshank II is provided with a rack I3 havingdiagonally disposed teeth, and extending lengthwise of the shank, and the jaw I2 has a body IIIrhaving arecess in which a worm or knurl I5. is rotatably mounted to engage and mesh with the rack I3. Referring to Fig. l, the rotatable mounting ofthe worm I5 is accomplished by a screwV IBlhaving. a smooth shank to provide a bearing for the worm. The teethof the rack I3. project. above the surface of the shank II, and to provide clearance-for them the 'body I4 of thev movable jaw. isprovided with longitudinal grooves I.'I and I8 in they upper and lower portions respectively.

AccordingY to the invention, there is provided a novel and improvedmeans for disengaging the worm I5 andv rack I3, saidv means being easily manipulated by the lingers and providing for quick relative bodily movement between the worm and rack in a direction axially of the teeth of thelatter.

This is accomplishedin the embodiment shown by making the shank II round so that it has :a circular cross-section and by providing the body I4 of the movable jaw with a round bore through which the. shank extends, so that the jaw I2 is rotatable on the shank I I as wellasslidablelengthwise thereof. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the

grooves I'I and I8 are made Wider than the teeth of the rack I3 to permit partial rotation of the jaw body I4 so that the Worm I5 can be bodily shifted relatively to the rack I3 and axially of the teeth thereof to disengage same.

By this construction and arrangement of parts there is provided an extremely simple and efficient means for disengaging the driving mechanism for the movable jaw I2 so that the latter can be quickly slid along the shank II to any desired position approximating the size of work to be handled. In order to effect this quick initial adjustment of the jaws it is only necessary to partially turn the body I4 about the shank with the fingers to disengage the worm I5, and then slide the body and the jaw I2 to the desired position, and again partially rotate same to re-engage the worm and rack. The final minute and powerful driving of the jaw I2 is then accomplished by turning the worm I5 in the usual manner.

It is at present preferred to limit the turning movement of the jaw .I2 and body I4 by having the sides of the rack I3 engage the walls of the grooves I l and I8. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherein the worm I4 engages the rack I3 and the jaws I and I2 are in alignment, one side of the rack I3 engages the walls I'Ia and I8a of the grooves I'I and I3 respectively.

When the jaw I2 and body I4 are partially rotated to the position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein the worm I5 is disengaged from the rack I3, the other side of the rack I3 engages the side walls I'Ib and I8b of the grooves I'I and I8 respectively.

It should be noted that the turning disengaging movement of the jaw I2 and body I 4, results in a bodily shifting of the worm I5 past the side I3a of the rack I3. In so turning, and assuming that the worm I5 does not rotate about the screw I6, the movable jaw I2 is advanced slightly toward the xed jaw Il?. This is an important feature of the invention inasmuch as it provides against inadvertent shifting or release of the jaws I0 and I2 from their final setting during use of the wrench. It can `be readily seen that when the wrench is in working position, tightly grasping an object to be turned, it is not possible for the jaws to move toward each other, and thus disengaging movement of the jaw I2 and body I4 is prevented. Furthermore, as the wrench is being operated to turn an object, the force on the jaws i0 and I2 tending to open or spread them increases in magnitude. This increase tends to hold the jaw I2 and body .I4 more firmly in its working position in alignment with the jaw I 0.

For, the purpose of facilitating re-engagement of the worm I5 and rack I3 after the jaw I2 has been initially quickly moved to its approximate setting, according to the invention, the teeth of the rack I3 along the side I3a thereof are narrowed to less than normal thickness. This enables the worm to move into engaging position with the rack even though the threads and teeth are not initially in exactly perfect alignment.

The invention further provides for yieldably holding the movable jaw I2 and b-ody I4 in aligned position with the fixed jaw I2 so that the worm I5 and rack I3 are prevented from being disengaged accidentally. This may be accomplished in any suitable way. In the embodiment shown, Fig. 1, a flat I9 is provided extending lengthwise along the back surface of the shank I I and adapted to be engaged by a spring 20 carried in a groove 2I in the round bore of the body I4. The spring 20 is preferably made of flat stock, with two arms contacting the flat I 9 and is fastened to the body I4 by a rivet 2|.

To facilitate manipulation of the body I4 by the ngers of one hand, so as to cause engagement and disengagement of the Worm I5 and. rack I3, the lower front portion I4a of said body is rounded and knurled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to provide a non-skid surface.

After the wrench as described yabove is assembled, a stop is set in the shank II to prevent the movable jaw and the body I4 from inadvertently sliding off the shank, said stop in the present preferred form of the invention comprising a pin 22 pressed tightly into place as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that while the shank I I is almost completely circular as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, it may have fiat or recessed portions 23 as shown in Fig. 7 so long as enough of a cylinder remains to form a bearing for the slidable and rotatable jaw.

Referring to Fig. "I, another embodiment of the invention is shown wherein means other than the rack I3 is provided for limiting the turning movement of the jaw i2 and body I4. According to this embodiment, the recessed portions 23 of the shank II are made in the form of longitudinally extending grooves, and a pin 124 is carried by the body i4 of the movable jaw to extend into one of said grooves, and by contact with the sides thereof, limit turning movement of the jaw body to the desired angle.

It should be understood, of course, that any of the various types of handles may be mounted on the lower end of shank II as desired.

Variations and modifications may be made Within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

' l. An adjustable wrench having a shank, a stationary jaw attached thereto, a movable jaw; a rack fastened to the shank to extend lengthwise thereof; an adjusting worm rotatably mounted on the movable jaw for driving same; means for rotatably mounting the movable jaw on the shank so that the worm and rack mesh, and so that the jaw may be turned on the shank about l the longitudinal axis thereof to bodily shift the worm laterally past the side edge of the rack to disengage same for permitting free travel of the movable jaw and worm on the shank; and means for limiting lateral movement of the jaw in Worm-engaging and Worm-disengaging positions.

2. An adjustable wrench having a round shank; a stationary jaw attached thereto; a rack fastened to the shank to extend lengthwise thereof, the teeth of the rack projecting above the surface of the shank; a movable jaw slidably mounted on the shank, said jaw having a round bore through which the shank passes, and having a groove providing clearance for the teeth of the rack; and a finger operable worm rotatably mounted on the movable jaw and meshing with the rack, the Walls of said groove determining the positions of the jaw by contact with opposite sides of the rack and .the width of the groove being such that the movable jaw can be partially rotated on the shank from the plane of the stationary jaw suiciently to disengage the worm from the rack, and allow free sliding of the movable jaw and Worm on said shank.

3. An adjustable wrench having a round shank, a stationary jaw attached thereto; a rack fastened to the shank to extend lengthwise thereof,

l the teeth of the rack projecting above the surface of the shank; a movable jaw slidablv mounted on the shank, said jaw having a round bore through which the shank passes, and having a groove providing clearance for the teeth of the rack; a linger operable worm rotatably mounted on the movable jaw and meshing with the rack, the Walls of said groove determining the position of the jaw by contact with the opposite sides of the rack and the width of the groove being such that the movable jaw can be partially rotated on the shank from the plane of the stationary ,jaw sufficiently to disengage the worm from the rack, and allow free sliding of the movable jaw and worm on said shank; and means for yieldably holding the movable jaw in aligning position with the fixed jaw to hold the Worm in engagement with the rack.

4. An adjustable wrench having a round shank with a flat on one side, a stationary jaw attached to the shank; a rack fastened to the shank to extend lengthwise thereof, the teeth of the rack projecting above the surface of the shank; a movable jaw slidably mounted on the shank, said jaw having a round bore through which the shank passes, and having a groove providing clearance for the teeth of the rack; a nger operable worm rotatably mounted on the movable jaw and meshing with the rack, the walls of said groove determining the position of the jaw by contact with opposite sides of the rack, and the width of the groove being such that the movable jaw can be partially rotated on the shank from the plane of the stationary jaw suiiiciently to disengage the worm from the rack, and allow free sliding of the movable jaw and Worm on said shank; and a spring carried by the movable jaw and engaging the fiat of the shank to yieldably hold the jaw in position where the worm and rack are in engagement.

5. An adjustable Wrench having a round shank, a stationary jaw attached thereto; a rack fastened to the shank to extend lengthwise thereof, the teeth of the rack projecting above the surface of the shank; a movable jaw slidably mounted on the shank, said jaw having a round bore through which the shank passes, and having a groove providing clearance for the teeth of the rack; a finger operable worm rotatably mounted on the movable jaw and meshing with the rack, the width of the groove in the movable jaw being such that said jaw can be partially rotated on the shank from the plane of the stationary jaw suiiiciently to disengage the worm from the rack, and allow free sliding of the movable jaw and Worm on said shank; and means for limiting the turning movement of the movable jaw between a position aligning same with the fixed jaw, and a partially rotated position wherein the Worm carried b'y the movable jaw is disengaged from the rack.

6. An adjustable wrench having a round shank with a longitudinally extending groove therein, a stationary jaw attached to the shank; a rack fastened to the shank to extend lengthwise thereof, the teeth of the rack projecting above the surface of the shank; a movable jaw slidably mounted on the shank, said jaw having a round bore through which the shank passes, and having a groove providing clearance for the teeth of the rack; a iinger operable worm rotatably mounted on the movable jaw and meshing with the rack, the width of the groove in the movable jaw being such that the movable jaw can be partially rotated on the shank from the plane of the stationary jaw suiiciently to disengage the worm from the rack, and allow free sliding of the movable jaw and worm on said shank; and a pin carried by the movable jaw and extending into the groove in the shank, said groove and pin permitting free advancing and retracting movement of the movable jaw, and permitting turning movement of the jaw only between a position aligning same with the stationary jaw and a position wherein the worm is disengaged from the rack.

THEODORE E. STEIBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: f

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

